The Report Card

The Report Card

The Report Card issues grades A through F, and incompletes where necessary, to a variety of news items in this space. Got an idea that makes the grade? Send it to JBuchanan@CITIZEN-TIMES.com

Reader grade

A to all who took part in the Asheville Marathon this past Saturday. The organizers, police and sheriff's personnel, youth/school groups, the many volunteers, and spectators along the route were all spectacular and brought great credit to the event and our city. As an Asheville native and race participant, I was so proud of our city and thankful for the many who made it such a huge success. The AC-T staff created many interesting and insightful race articles to generate excitement; I especially commend Karen Chávez and Erin Brethauer for their work. Hats off to all who made it happen and did so to make it a class event.

Dick Allen, Arden

Staff grades

A to the Eblen Charities St. Nicholas Project, which kicked off Tuesday. The project helps families in need of help in providing a memorable Christmas for their children. The St. Nicholas Project has grown from assisting 325 children to more than 5,500 children in the last three years, and there will undoubtedly be no shortage of families in need again this year. Families can sign up for the Project at the Waddell Client Service Center in the Westgate Shopping Center from 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. "This Christmas, thousands of area children will have a brighter Christmas thanks to the generosity of Ingles Markets, WLOS, Clear Channel, Tony and Isa Fraga, Mission Hospital, the Smoky Mountain Toy Run, Two Men and a Truck, Barnes and Noble Biltmore Park, the Harley Owners Group, and with many others who are joining us in collecting toys," said Bill Murdock, executive director of Eblen Charities. "To again be working with so many wonderful partners on such a wonderful and important project is not only a great honor for us, but will touch more lives than ever before." For more information, contact Murdock at the Eblen Charities at 242-2848 or via email at eblenfound@aol.com

B to the latest area job numbers. Unemployment in the Asheville metro area dropped to 6.3 percent in August, down from 6.8 percent in July, according to data released by the N.C. Department of Commerce. Buncombe's jobless rate fell to 6.2 percent for the month, down from a revised figure of 6.7 percent in July. Unemployed workers decreased from 8,740 to 7,936 in August for the county. But there were some clouds casting shadows over the generally sunny report; the county's number of employed workers fell from 129,515 in July to 127,075 for August. The state also saw the workforce shrink for the month by 19,577.

F to the additional hardship forced on already-suffering people caused by the federal shutdown. People who rely on federally funded food programs in North Carolina might have to go elsewhere for help if the shutdown continues past the end of the month, according to the state and a food bank operator. They will likely end up at local food pantries, which would also feel the pinch of the shutdown. Cindy Threlkeld, executive director of MANNA FoodBank, said her nonprofit gets 12 percent of its food supply from a federal program. The 12 percent represented about 1.4 million pounds of food for the poor in Western North Carolina last year, she said. Grocery stores would also feel the effects of a lingering shutdown as funds for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, known as WIC, run out this month. The program provides supplemental food for nearly 264,000 women, infants and young children in the state each month; participants buy the food at grocery stores.

A to celebrations of mountain heritage. Western Carolina University held its 39th Mountain Heritage Day last weekend, drawing thousands to Cullowhee to sample mountain music, arts, crafts, foods, traditions, games and activities. Several of the region's outstanding cultural contributors were recognized in brief ceremonies at midday. Susan Morgan Leveille, a proprietor of the Oaks Gallery in Dillsboro, was honored as the individual recipient of the Mountain Heritage Award. Receiving the organization award was Catch the Spirit of Appalachia. In presenting the award to Leveille, WCU Chancellor David O. Belcher noted her lifelong passion for weaving and for teaching the craft. Catch the Spirit of Appalachia, created to "encourage youth to cherish their heritage and creativity, and inspire connections with all cultures," was recognized for almost 25 years of fulfilling that mission in the region. Additionally, former WCU staff member Lila Buchanan was presented with the annual Eva Adcock Award for her many years of service to Mountain Heritage Day. Meanwhile, Mars Hill will celebrate the mountains with two festivals on Oct. 5. The Heritage Festival takes over Main Street with crafts, art and food vendors from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., while the 46th annual Bascom Lamar Lunsford Minstrel of Appalachia Festival fills the center of Mars Hill University with musicians, dancers and 4-H fun. The daytime programs are free and open to the public; a ticket is required to attend the evening concert in Moore Auditorium.

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The Report Card

The Report Card issues grades A through F, and incompletes where necessary, to a variety of news items in this space.